Wayne SW/MO

It is environmental impact on the habitat. It wasn't long after BS was filled that there was a major flood and every tree up to the flood pool line died. Eventually trees that could stand the high water grew back and the lake lost its dersert look. The thing that doesn't exist is shoreline cover because the lake never stays at power pool long enough to let it become established. That is why the lake is feast or famine in the spawn department. It's full of small bass right now because of the long high water last year, steady high water=wet brush=healthy spawn. The fact that they keep the walleye population high doesn't help because they are direct compertitors for the same food source and are at the top of the list for fish predators. The stripers on the other hand tend to stay in open water and hunt down shad, when they aren't in deep water. If there is any link between the temperate bass and the sunfish bass it's in reducing the shad population and increasing the small bass's food supply. YES! TR has an economoc base that would be hard to improve on, but the same can't be said for the ares around BS. Any fish stocking that would attract more visitors will improve the lives of many in the area and striper wouldn't hurt that. You threw your challenge, how about you come up with a lake that has suffered a decline in black bass, after stripers were introduced?

Wilson was said to have some E-coli problems, so be careful.

I believe it's 3 or 4 miles. I haven't been on that stretch in awhile however. Everyone is different, but I hate to rush and I like to be able to work any area that looks or acts promising, so I tend to favor the shorter distance. The other hand is that fishing pressure always decreases below NRO.

There are a lot of them and they rank near trhe top in in fighting and size. With the big move towards C & R the term trash fish really isn't relevent anymore. There are still those who throw them on the bank. I can't imagine what kind of mentality it takes for some dumb butt to throw one fish on the bank to kill it and stink up the area people fish and think they have acomplished something. I hope the don't pass the ignorance down.

Oh well, live and learn and make memories. I would imagine it was cattle, they will do just that. Thay are generally very curious animals.

I suspect that if it is true it might reach beyond Linden.

I would fish to NRO or Barclay. Just don't plan on fishing the 2nd or 3rd. I wouldn't waste to much time between RF and the spring either.

Good job Oneshot.

Good!!!

You mean $tripers?

Once again this area gets a back hand because of off the wall stats from a special interest group.

I might add that Cottonmouths always, in my experience, appear thick for their length and when they swim they appear to swim high in the water. My quick identifier is a thick dark snake near the water and seldom seen in it.

Yes, they finally figured out there was no one smart enough or energetic enough around here to bother with it.

I only call mine a name when it doesn't respond the way I think it should. The tail clipping depends. If they are on the weak side it could be anything, but if they are reaasonably secure then it could well be gar.

I'm not a burger connoisseur,, but I thought Freddies, up by the new Wal Mart was very good. Freddies is completely new to me, so if that's old hat so be it. Side note, the Branson cafe has been there since before 1960. It has changed a lot and personaly I don't think it has kept it's edge.

Well it's a public water so I would think it would come down to courtesy. In the scenario you put up, you did have your chance if they moved into water you had vacated.

I like the 65's and the 100's. I don't know that the 115 would be too big. Anytime a bass comes up to hit a lure walking the dog they are in an agressive mood. I use braid and nothing else for Sammie's. The fact that braid floats and has no stretch makes a difference in control.

I live here and I took it as a light hearted response. I didn't see the meth comment, did the state lose its competative edge?

The whole contraversy about the bass population is misguided. There is no evidence in any other lakes that there is any problems. The stripers seldom feed on the same food source, they don't spawn in the same areas nor do they seek the same water temperatures. Ironicaly nothing is said about the one introduction thatt competes heavily, the walleye? The bottom line is that stripers feed on the bass competitors while the walleye feed on bass food and bass. The problem with BS is feast and famine. The high water brings an outstanding spawn, but because the high water has pretty much killed off any cover available during normal pool, the spawn suffers. We had high water last year and the 4-6" bass are almost a nuisance this year. Flooded brush means the number one fish eater in the lake, the walleye, can't get to them.

I'll throw them all day if the river has a lot of shade. I've also pulled them out deeper water during the day. I do believe you have to have cover to be really effective all day.

I haven't been, but I've seen a feature on it on local TV and it looks like it's worth the trip.

People who use Power Bait generally use two contrasting colors on the hook.

It isn't cheap, but its not out of line with any other part of the country. Silver Dollar City is expensive also, but you can be entertained all day there. I might add the Branson Bell to the list also.

Adding to restaurants, for others not so far from the east side, the Farm House in Old Town is great place to eat American food. There is also a restaurant north on 13 past the Reeds Spring turn-off called Gateway that has good food.

Take a good look at this oneshot. The idea, which works, is that when they try to spit it out they will hook themselves. I don't ever wait for my line to move, if it's moving their hooked! http://www.fishforcarp.com/html/hairrigs.htm